Rotary engine



Sept. 6,1927. ,6 1,911

T. TSCHUDI ROTARY ENGINE Filed July 10, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEYS Sept. 6, 1927. T. TSCHUDI ROTARY ENGINEY Filed July 10, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet WITNESSES Mfwm ATTORNEYS ep 9 -'r. TSCHUDI ROTARY ENGINE Filed July 10, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 \INVENTOR I fiauyofils'ohudi WITNESSES ATTORNEYS 1-, 41, 11 Sept 1927' 'T.YTSC.HUDI 6 9 ROTARY ENGINE Filed July 10, 1925 l NTOR ATTORNEYS WITNESSES '1'. TSCHUDI ROTARY ENGINE- Filed July 10, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 WITNESSES INVENTOR oftfzgmdi/ v I v BY VG ORNEY i an Patented Se t. 6, 1927.

UNITED STATES TRAUGOTT TSCHUDI,

PATENT OFFICE.

or NEW YORK, 1:. Y.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Application filed July 10, 1925. Serial No. 42,769.

The invention comprehends arotary en-" gine or motor, by means of which ower impulses are imparted to a drive sha t through the medium of a pair of rotors which are successively coupled with the drive shaft, and each of which rotors is provided with diametrically disposed pistons movable in an annular chamber or toroidal cylinder, constituting a part of the stator, to sub-divide the chamber or cylinder into a plurality, of separate compartments successively registering with ports in the chamber or cylinder for respectively receiving acharge producing a force for moving the same and for discharging the charge when the force is spent, and in which. adjacent pistons constitute, respectively, fixed and movable abutments, whereby the'rotor carrying the movable piston coupled with the shaft imparts turnin motion thereto.

fine of the outstanding objects of the present invention is to provide a rotary motor or engine in which valves and valve-operating means are dispensed with, thereby eliminating faulty operation due to improper timing and seating of the valves.

As a further objective, the invention comprehends a motor in which vibration is reduced to an absolute minimum, and in which crank shafts and connecting rods are dispensed with.

As a still further object, the invention provides an improved rotary motor which is comparatively simple in its construction and mode of operation, which is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, and which is highly efiicient in its purpose.

With the above recited and other objects in view, reference is had tothe following specification and drawings in which there is exhibited one example orembodiment of the invention which is in no way intended as a limitation upon the scope of the appended claimsas it is to be clearly understood that variations and modifications which properly fall within the scope of said claims may be resorted to when found expedient.

In the drawingsv 1 Figure 1 is .a vertical sectional view through a motor constructed in accordance with the invention, said section being taken approximately on the line. 11 of Fig. 2;

Fig. is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line indicated at 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an inner face view of one of the casing sections;

Fig. 4 is' a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, to illustrate the means for limiting the rotors to rotation in one direction and for locking the same against retrograde movement;

Fig. 5 is an inner face view of one of the rotors;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view therethrough taken approximately on the line 6-6 of Fig. 7 is an inner face View of the other 3 I Fig. 8 is'a sectional view therethrough ia keuz approximately on the line 8-8 of Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are dia rammatic Views illustrating the various wor ing positions of the pistons and rotors;

Fig. 12 is a detail fragmentary sectional View taken approximately on the line 12-12 of Fig. 1, illustratin the means'for coupling the rotors to the 'sha t.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the engine includes a casing comprisin mating sections" 10 and 11, of substantia ly identical construction, each including an annular wall 12 of substantially semi-cylindrical configuration in cross section, formed with an outwardly projecting annular flange 13 having alined or registering' openings 14 to receive therethrough bolts 15 for clamping the casing sections together in mated relation, so that the annular semi-circular cross-sectional walls 12 define together a toroidal cylinder or annular chamber 16. The inner ends of the walls 12, however, are spaced apart to define an annular groove therebetween, the purpose of which will be-hereafter set forth. The inner ends of the walls 12 have formed integral there- "with an outwardly rojecting annularflange 17 between which anges 17 and the flanges 13 a jacket 18 extends to provide a circularspace 19 for receiving water or other cooling medium. from" each flange 17, is a circumferential head 20, which is formed to provide an inner Extending radially inward from the motor.

cam face 21 having diametrically disposed radlal depressions 22 connected by an arouate eccentric portion 23. The inner vertical face of each flange 17 is formed with an annular groove 24 to receive a packing ring end of the shaft is operatively connected with a spark-timing device 31, through the medium of the timing gears 32 and 33. The drive shaft has keyed thereto for turning movement therewith between its bearing points, axially spaced coupling elements 32L having circumferentially spaced peripheral notches 35. A pair of disk-like members 36 and 37, constituting, respectively, a pair of rotors, are loosely mounted on-the drive shaft for independent turning movement between the coupling elements 34, with the outer peripheral portions 38 extending through the annular groovedetined between the inner extremities of the walls 12. At diametrically opposite points on the periphery of the rotor 36, are arcuate pistons 39 and -10, and at diametrically opposite points on the periphery of the rotor 37, are arcuate istons ll and 42, which fit and are mova le within the toroidal cylinder or annular chamber 16 so that the cylinder is subdivided into circumferentially spaced chambers adapted, when the motor is used as an internal combust on engine, to respectively serve as a fuel-receiving, compression, explosion and exhaust compartment. To this end, the cylinder or chamber 16 is provided at circumferentially spaced points with intake and exhaust ports 43 and 44, between which an ignitmnplug 45 controlled by the timing device 31, 1S 1nterposed.

Each of the rotdrs 36 and 37 is provided with a radial sliding latch 4.6 mounted in a guide 47, the latch havinga tooth 48 r'or engagement with the circumferentially spaced notches 35 in the coupling elements 34:, when the latch is moved inwardly. The means for moving each latch inwardly consists of a lever 49, fulcrumed at 50 to a portion of the guide i7 and havin a pin-andslot connection 51 with the late 1. One extremity 52 of the lever is connected by a coiled contractile spring 53 with the rotor, as at 54, for normally swinging the lever to a position to disengage the tooth 48 from the notches 35. The opposite extremit has mounted thereon a cam roller 55, whici enllustrated in Fi gages with the inner cam face 21 of the circumferential head 20.

Each rotor is provided with a substantially semi-annular ateral outwardly projecting ange 56 formed with circumferentially T spaced notches 57 having inclined inner walls 58 and receiving within the notches, rollers 59 which engage, respectively, the inclined inner walls 58 and the inner periphery oi": the flange 17 of the casing lying within the head 20, whereby the rotors are limited to a rotating or swinging movement in one direction and whereby the same are locked or prevented from inoven'ient in the opposite direction, due to the fact that a jamming action is set up by the rollers between the inner walls 58 of the notches and the inner periphery of the flange 17. Preferably the rollers are confined against lateral outward movement by means of the semi-annular side plates 60, which are secured by anchoring screws 61 to the outer side of the flanges 56. The rotor 36 is provided on its inner face with diametrically positioned inwardly projecting substantiall arcuate abutments 62, while the rotor 3 is provided on its inner face with inwardly projecting substantially arcuate complementary abutments 63.

In use and operation of the engine and particularly referring to l ig. 9, compressed fuel within the chamber a defined between pistons b and c, is ignited by the ignition device or spark plug &5, so that the piston 0 attached to rotor 37, will be driven by the force of the explosion, in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 9, from the position illustrated in said figure to the position illustrated in Fig. 10, the piston b of rotor 36 constituting a stationary abutment which is held against retrograde move ment by virtue of the rollers 59 in the notches 57. The initial movement of the piston a will effect the riding of the cam roller on to the face portion 23 which may betcrined the high point of the cam so that the rotor 37, which is now moving, is coupled with the drive shaft through the interengagement of the tooth 48 of the latch, within one of the notches 350i? the coupling element 34, thus movin or turning the shaft with the rotor 37 When the piston c and rotor 37 are in the position illustrated in Fig. 10 the arcuatc abutmentelements 62 and 63 will become fully engaged whereby the rotor 36 will be moved with the rotor 37 from the osition illustrated in Fig. 10 to the position 11. During the time that the piston c and rotor 37 are moving from the position illustrated in Fig. 9 to the posi* tion illustrated in Fig. 10, the engagement of the cam roller of the lever on the rotor 36 with the lower portion of the cam face. allows the spring 53 to cause the disen age ment of the clutch tooth 48 of the clutch element 34:, so that the rotor 36, which is at rest, is uncoupled from'the shaft. Immedi- .ately following the engagement of the abutment elements 62 and 63, as in Fig. 10, the cam roller 55 of the rotor 36'reaches apoint on the cam face to-cause a connection between the rotor 36 and the shaft so that during' a portion of each impulse, both rotors will be .coupled to the shaft. When the piston 0 reaches the position illustrated in Fig.

11, the chamber a will register with the ex:

haust port 43 to allow the escape of the burnt fuel therefrom, which burn-t fuel is forced out by the next explosion in the chamber or compartment (1, which is defined between the pistons b and e. It will be further noted that during the movement of the piston c from the position illustrated in Fig. 9 to the position illustrated in Fig. 10, the' charge of fuel which has been reviously intaken and which is now confined etween the piston e and the piston 12, will be'compressed by the movement of the piston 6 toward the piston 12. It

will be still further noted that the chamber f, which is defined between the piston e and the piston g-,.which chamber is in registry with the intake port 43, will, during the movement of the piston c from the position in Fig.9 to theposition in Fig. 10, receive a charge of fuel, duejto the relative movement of the piston c with respect to the piston g, to be subsequently compressed by the next firing stroke.

. rotors and The movement of the pistons and rotors to the position illustrated in Fig. 11, places the pistons b and e in a position to dispose the chamber (1 filled with the "compressed fuel,

in registry 'with the ignition device or spark plug 45 to repeat the operation, and it will be observed that three power impulses are given to the shaft during each rotation thereof.

In order to prevent leakage of the fuel from the annular chamber or cylinder 16, between the rotors 36 and 37, and between said the flanges 17, packing rings 64 and 65 are provided, the former being mounted in the groove 24 and bearing against the annular shoulders 66 on the outer sides of the rotor, and the latter in the complementary packingiat thering grooves 67 in the confronting inner faces of therotors. In order to further cover and completely house the mechanism, cover plates- 68 are secured on outer side of each housing section.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rotary motor, a stator having a toroidal cylinder, a drive shaft extending axially through the stator, a pair of rotors each having a pair of diametrically disposed arc uate pistons arranged within the cylinder for subdividing the same into a plurality of compartments or chambers adapted upon relativemovementnf the pistons to vary size, said cylinder havin circumferentially spaced fuel intake and e aust ports, an ignition device communicating therewith being cireumferentially cylinder.

tween the points of intake and exhaust, coppling elements keyed to the drive shaft havnotches', a radially slidable latch on each rotor adapted upon' inward radial movement to engage with one of the notches of the couspaced peripheral plingelements to couple its rotor with the shaft, a lever pivoted on each rotor having operative connection with the latch for moving the same radially upon swinging movement of the lever, means for normally swinging the leverftomove' the latch' radiall outward to anon-coupling relation, 9. rol er on the lever and a cam element'formed on the stator having cam faces with which the roller engages for controlling the movement of the latch actuating levers whereby intermittent coupling of the rotors and drive shaft is effected. y

2. In a rotary motor, a stator having a toroidal cylinder, a drive shaft extending axially through the stator, a pair of rotors each having a pair of diametrically disposed arcuate pistons arranged within the cylinder for subuividingthe same into a plurality of compartments or chambers adapted upon relative movement of the pistons to vary in size, said cylinder having circumferentially spaced fuel intake and exhaust ports, an ignition device communicating" therewith between the points of intake and exhaust, coupling elements keyed to the drive shaft having circumferentially. notches, a radially slidable latch on each rotor adapted upon inward radial movement to enga e with one of the notches of the coupling e ements to couple its rotorwith the spaced peripheral.

of the latch actuating levers whereby intermittent coupling of the rotors and drive shaft is effected, and means for limiting the movement of the rotors to rotation in one direction whereby the chambers defined between the pistons successfully receive, compress, ignite, and exhaust the fuel charge durlng the rotation of the rotors within the 3. In .a rotary motor, a stator having a toroidal cylinder, a drive shaft extending axially through the stator, a pair of rotors each having a pair of diametrically disposed arcuate pistons arranged within the cyhnder of compartments or chambers adapted upon for subdividing the same into a plurality relative movement of the pistons to vary in size, said cylinder havin' circumferentially spaced fuel intake .and e aust ports, "an igring cireumferentially nition device communicating therewith between the points of intake and exhaust, coupling elements keyed to the drive shaft havspaced peripheral notches a radially slidable latch on each rotor adapted upon inward radial movement to enga e with one of the notches of the coupling elements to couple its rotor with the shaft, a lever pivoted on each rotor having operative connection with the latch for moving the same radially upon swinging movement of the lever, means for normally swing ing the lever tb move the latch radially outward to a non-coupling relation, a roller on the lever and a cam elelnentformed on the stator having cam faces with which the roller engages for controlling the movement of the latch actuating levers whereby intermittent couplin of the rotors and drive shaft is effected, sai rotors having engageahle abutment elements adapted to coact for movin the same in unison at specified interva s. a

4. In a rotary motor, a stator having a toroidal cylinder, a drive shaft extending axially through the stator, a pair of rotors each having a pair of diametrically disposed arcuate pistons arranged within the clyincler for subdividing the same into a plurality of compartments or chambers adapted upon relative movement of the pistons to vary in size, said cylinder having circumferentially nition device communicating therewith be-v tween the points of intake and exhaust, coupling elements keyed to the drive shaft having circumferentially spaced peripheral notches, a radially slidable latch on each rotor adapted upon inward radial movement to engage with one of the notches ot' the coupling elements to couple its rotor with the shaft, a lever pivoted on each rotor having operative connection with the latch for moving the same radially upon swinging movement of the lever, means for normally swinging the lever to move the latch radially outward to a non-coupling relation, a roller on the lever and a cam element formed on the stator having cam faces with which the roller engages for controlling the movement of the latch actuating levers whereby intermittent coupling of the rotors and drive shaft is effected, said rotors having engage-able abutment elements adapted to co act for moving the same in unison at specified intervals, said abutments consisting of arcuate shaped bosses on the inner confronting faces of the rotors adapted to overlap and engage in certain relative positions of the rotors.

TRAUGOTT TSCHUDI. 

